Diagnostic Tests for Personality change

Diagnostic Test list for Personality change:

The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Personality change includes:

• Mental state examination - including appearance, behavior, rate and continuity of speech, mood, affect, thought content, evidence of any hallucinations or abnormal beliefs, orientation to time, place and person, attention and concentration, short-term memory, insight and judgement - Can help diagnose depression, anxiety and psychosis.
• Mini-mental state examination - if dementia is suspected test memory and cognitive function.
• Physical examination
  • Signs of delirium? - examine for signs that personality change may be due to delirium rather than mental illness or dementia ( e.g. temperature, neck stiffness may suggest meningitis, encephalitis or subarachnoid hemorrhage; neurological examination to look for focal neurological signs and papilledema may suggest stroke, brain cancer or traumatic brain injury).
  • If suspect multi-infarct dementia, examine for signs of vascular pathology e.g. high blood pressure, signs of previous strokes
• Blood tests (if warranted)
  • Full blood count and ESR for evidence of infection and inflammation
  • Electrolytes and renal function tests
  • Blood sugar
  • Liver function tests
  • Thyroid function tests
  • Vitamin B12 and folate levels
  • Syphilis and HIV screening, if appropriate
  • Blood cultures, if fever of unknown origin
  • Viral serology tests
  • Serum cortisol and cortisol suppression test, if suspect Cushing's syndrome
  • Serum FSH and estradiol level, if suspect menopause
  • Epstein-Barr serology (post-infective state may present with depression-like symptoms)
  • ANA antibody to detect lupus erythematosus
• Urine tests
  • Urine analysis
  • Urine microscopy and culture - especially in elderly to rule out a urinary tract infection as a cause of delirium and personality change.
  • Urine drug screen - consider if suspect illicit drug abuse.
• Radiological investigations
  • CT Scan Brain - to rule out brain cancer, stroke, traumatic brain injury and signs of dementia.
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) - to rule out temporal lobe epilepsy as a cause of personality changes.

Home Diagnostic Testing

These home medical tests may be relevant to Personality change causes:

• Child Behavior: Home Testing
  • ADHD -- Home Test Kits
  • Concentration -- Home Testing
• Mental Health (Adults): Home Testing
  • Adult ADHD -- Home Testing
  • Concentration -- Home Tests
• Mental Health: Home Testing:
  • Home Emotional Stress Tests
  • ADHD -- Home Testing
  • Concentration -- Home Test Kits
• Brain & Neurological Disorders: Related Home Testing:
  • ADHD -- Home Tests
  • Drug Screening Kits

 » Next page: Glossary

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